Player piano



J. C. ARTHUR Jan. 14, 1930.

PLAYER PIANO Filed April 30, 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet l .Eli

J. C. ARTHUR Jan.- 14, 1930.

PLAYER PIANO 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 30. 1926 Jan. 1'4, v1930.

4 Sheets-Sheet 3 'i iii "gg/0x02);

:ffl-'ii `.1. c. ARTHUR PLAYER PIANO Filed April 30. 1926 Jan. 14, 1930.

J. c. ARTHUR PLAYER PIANO 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed April 30. 1926 Patented Jan. 14, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PLAYER PIANO Application 1ed April 30,

This invention relates to player-pianos. One object of the invention is to provide means in the form of a dynamic governor for controlling and regulating the low pressure or reduced air between the pneumatic stack and the pump or exhauster, which results in varying the dynamic force of the striking pneumatics, and at the same time governs the reduced air in such manner that one or more notes used at the same time will result in striking of the corresponding hammers with equal dynamic force.

Another object of the invention is to provide a dynamic governor of the above char- V1:5 acter in which springs for providing resistance to the governor are entirely eliminated and automatically actuated pneumaticallyl operated means are utilized for providing the necessary resistance.

Still another object of the invention contemplates the provision of a system of the above character which is automatically actuated and controlled by the sheet of music in its passage over the tracker bar.

Anda still further object of the invention is to provide a valvesystem for operating the dynamic governor wherein it is necessary to provide in the music roll only a short aperture which is utilized for actuating the valves to admit atmospheric air to the governor, after which the aperture in the tracker bar is again closed by the music sheet While the valve remains in position to furnish atmospheric air to the governor, the valves being cancelled or restored to their original position by means of a second and independent aperture in the music roll spaced the desired distance from the first aperture, depending upon the duration of the accented portion, thereby eliminating the necessity of providing slots in the edges of the music roll which weakens the music sheet adjacent the edge and seriously interferes with proper tracking of the sheet over the tracker bar.

Other' and further objects of the invention will more clearly appear from the description and claims hereinafter following.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a vertical, transverse, sectional view through a player-piano of conventional forni showing the location 1926. Serial No. 105,657.

and connection of the expression apparatus contemplated by my invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the dynamic governor proper and the valve arrangement used in connection therewith, parts of the exterior wall of the governor being broken away to more clearly disclose the interior construction thereof. Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the dynamic governor and valve box. Fig. 4 is a transverse, vertical, sectional view through the governor substantially on the line 4 4 of Fig. 8. Fig. 5 is a fragmentary end elevation of the governor and valve box showing portions of the conduits leading to the pneumatic stack and to the pump. Fig. 6 is a fragmentary top plan view of the valve box. Figf is a vertical, sectional view of the invention substantially on the line 7 7 of Fig. 6, showing portions of the mechanism in elevation. Fig. 8 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the valve box. Fig. 9 is a vertical, transverse, sectional view through the valve box substantially on the line 9 9 of Fig. 6. Fig. 10 is a top plan view of the valve box with the cover removed therefrom. Fig. 11 is a top plan view of the valve box showing the arrangement of certain of the passages between the valves. Figure 19. is an enlarged sectional view of the invention similar to Figure 9. Figure 10 is a top plan view somewhat similar to Figure 12 and showing the ducts leading to the valve chambers. And Figure 13 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view corresponding substantially to the line 13 13 of Figure 12.

Referring first to Fig. 1 of the drawings, there is shown in conventional form a playerpiano, which may be of any suitable type. Said piano ordinarily is provided with a pump 20, illustrated in the drawing as a manually operated bellows arrangement, but which usually is in the form of an electrically driven pump; and a pneumatic stack indicated at 21 which is usually divided so as to have two separate vent chambers and suction `runks leading to the pump 20, corresponding to the treble and bass portions of the piano, only one of said trunks being illustrated in the drawing and designated by the numeral The tracker bar of the mechanism is indicated at 13, and the music roll at 24. rhe piano action is indicated conventionally at 25. The mechanism thus far described is of a type ordinarily present in a large number of pianos which utilize various systems of operation.

The present invention has for its purposethe control of the piano action by the interposition in the trunk line 22, between the Vpump 20 and the stack 2l, of a governing apparatus indicated broadly at A, which is automatically controlled by means of a valve arrangement indicated generally by the reference character B, which valve arrangement is automatically controlled by the passage of the music sheet 24 over the tracker bar 23. In this connection, it will be appreciated that although only one trunk line 22 is illustrated, and one governor with its associated parts shown, there will be provided two dynamic governors, one for the trunk line leading to the vent chamber of the treble portion of the pneumatic stack and one for the other trunk line leading to the vent chamber of the bass portion of the pneumatic stack.

The dynamic governor A comprises a stationary leaf supported in any suitable manner, and said leaf is usually of box-like form having end walls 31-31 and side walls 32 and 32a. The side wall 32 is preferably provided with two annular openings of the same diameter indicated by the reference characters 33 and 34, the aperture 34 communicating by means of the tube 35 with the pneumatic stack 21, while the opening 33 is connected by the tube 36 through trunk 22 with theV pump 20. Pivotally secured to the forward edge of the stationary leaf 30 by means of a hinge 37 is the movable leaf 38 of the governor, said leaf being connected to the movable leaf by suitable air tight material commonly used in the player-piano art, as indicated at 39, which permits swinging movement of the movable leaf 38 with reference to the stationary leaf 30 as required. A knife valve 40 of well known form is pivotally connected at one end upon an eccentric 400 to the stationary leaf 30, as indicated, and is connected adjacent its other end with the movable leaf 38 as indicated at 4l, said knife valve being adapted to control the size of the opening 33 dependent upon the movement of the movable leaf 33 of the governor so as to vary the passage of air from the pneumatic stack 2l to the pump 20.

In order to provide resistance against the collapse of the bellows formed by the stationary and movable' leaves and the airtight cloth, when the air is reduced in the governor, thereis provided an auxiliary bellows 42, which comprises a movable leaf hingedly connected adjacent one end to the movable leaf 38 of the governor, as indicated at 43,7the mot/able leaf of the bellows 42 being flexibly connected tothe leaf 38 of the governor by suitable air tight fabric indicated at 44 while the same is rigidly connected to the stationary leaf 30 of the governor by a connection 300. The bellows 42 communicates with the governor by means of a small aperture 45, and hence the air in the governor and the bellows 42'will necessarily under ordinary conditions be at the same degree of pressure, and if the air in the governor is suddenly reduced, the collapse of the governor will be retarded or resisted by the slow passage of the air at a different pressure in the bellows 42 through the small opening 45, and when the pressure is again permitted toincrease in the governor, the bellows 42 will automatically resume an equalized pressure. This arrangement provides the resistance to the collapse of the governor which can be effected by the utilization of suitable springs, but it will be appreciated that springs vary 1n ten- 1 sion and hence require frequent adjustment, whereas the pneumatic resistance just described is uniformly operable at all times. lf any adjustment is required, the same can be made by varying the position of the ec-A centric pivot 400 of the knife valve.

lVith this arrangement, it will be appreciated that the governor automatically operates to furnish the required pressure in the pneumatic stack so that one or any number of notes will be struck with the same intensity, the governor automatically opening and closing as desired and hence operating the knife valve which opens and closes'the aperture 33 the required amount.

Means are provided which control the movement of the movable leaf 38 of the governor in graduated degrees to effect variations of the dynamic force of the striking pneumatics, which are controlled from the l tracker bar and operate upon the movable leaf of the governor to move the same independently of its automatic movement dependent upon the change in pressure in the pneumatic stack, the equal striking force of one or more pneumatics of course being at the same time taken care of by the variations in the movable leaf of the governor which are brought about by the variations of pressure in the pneumatic stack. Said means include what are in effect a plurality of small bellows or pneumatics graduated in size and hereinafter termed power pneumatics,-as the same move the movable leaf of the governor a cer# tain extent when actuated. In the present embodiment of the invention, there are preferably provided power pneumatics 46, 47, 48, and 49. The power pneumatic 46 includes a leaf 50, which is rigidly connected to the stationary leaf 30 of the governor, preferably Von the inner side thereof, and has a movable leaf 5l hingedly connected to the stationary leaf, the movable leaf 5l being connected to the stationary leaf 50 by suitablerair tight'fabric 52, thepneumatic 46 being sealed from the inf- Y teriorof the bellows, and the same has an opening 53 :to the exterior of the bellows, which opening leads ito the valve arrange ment hereinafter more particularly pointed out. The powerl pneumatic 47 is also secured tothe stationary leaf of the vernor and .is of generally'similar construction :to the pneumatic-46,.the pneumatic 47 being provided with an opening 54 .extending to the valve box ashereinafter referred to. The only difference betweenthe pneumatics 46 and 47 residesin making the `pneumatic 47?' of greater length' as lshown-in'crder to provide increased capacity,fso thatwhen fthe pneumatic 47 is actuated, through 'suitable connections hereinafter referred to,:vthe .pneumatic 47 will move themovableleaf ofthe governor a somewhat greater extent thanfthe pneumatic 46. The pneumatic .48 is similarto'the pneumatics 46 fand 47, -exceptthat the same is of still greater-length, the pneumatic v49 'being provided with an opening 55 leading tothe valve arrangement. As manyof these lpneumatics graduated inm'ze may "be provided as will be deemed necessary, and although only three of the same are shown, it will be understood that any suitable number may be utilized. In addition to the smaller pneumatics 46,v 47', and '48, there is provided a pneumatic 56 which -is vof A'relatively -greatsize and capacity as shown, landshall bc'hereinafter known as the -crescehdol pneumatic, as `operation of the same will elect a relatively greatmovement of the movable leafrof the governor,and.hence have'a' marked effect upon the striking pneumaticsr.- The crescendo pneumatic 56 has its upper leaf 57 connected to the movable leaf.

of each of the smallervpneumatics by means vof the links 58, while the lower leaf 59 of said pneumatic is rigidly connected to the mov-able lea-f of the governor. An aperture 60 com municates with the crescendo pneumatic and extends to the valve 'box'in a manner .hereinafter referred to.

-All of the' power pneumatics 46, 47, 48 and 49 are operated by a valve arrangement which for the sake of convenience is arranged in the valve 'box indicated at B. Said box houses a plurality of so-called primary valves corresponding in number to the number of powerpneumatics associated with the governor., As best shown in Figs.' 7 and 9, the valvelbox comprises a baseportion 60a which forl the sake of conveniencemay be mounted upon the stationary leaf f30 of the governor. The base portion 60a is provided with a plurality of pouch chambers 6l, the chambers 6l being four in number to correspond with thenumber of power pneumatics utilized. Each'of the pouch'chambers 6l, is spanned by a pouch'63. 'Each of the pouch chambers 6l is provided with Ia duct 64 which is connected by a tube to a hole in the tracker bar 23. Each of the chambers 6l also is provided with a small passage or a bleed hole which communicates with the vacuum chamber in the valve box hereinafter referred to. rlhe upper portion of the valve housing comprises a block or cap which fits over` the base as best shown in Fig. 9, there being suitable sealing' material 67 interposed between the cap and base. The cap is provided with an elongated chamber 68 which forms a low pressure air chamber, from which the air is exhausted through a duct 69 communicating with a conduit 70, which is connected directly to the high exhaust, or vstated in another manner with the trunk 22 prior to its communication with the governor A. vBy this arrangement, the air in the chamber 68- is constantly at low pressure. lSlidably mounted over the pouch 63 of 'each of the chambers 6l is a valve '71. Each of said valves includes a stem 72slida-bly mounted in a suitable guide bore 73 in the top oaf cap portion of the valve box, saidy guide being of greater diameter than the stem 72 and communicating with the chamber 68 and the atmosphere. Each valve has a head 74 adapted to close the bore and is provided with a button 75 at' its opposite end adapted to be acted upon by the pouch 63y when the same is vibrated. The top portion of the valve housing is also provided with a plurality of ducts, one of the same communicating with the bore 7 3 as indicated at 76 in Fig. 9, each of the ducts 76 communicating through a tube with pneumatics in the governor so that when the'head `ofthe valve 74 opens the bore 73 'atmospheric air willpass along the duct 76 to the corresponding power pneumatic and actuate the same.

The valve arrangement thus tar'described is generally 'similar to the primary valve arrangement ordinarily used for admitting atmospheric air', or cutting olil the same in connection with various devices oi playerpianos, and is of such character that without anything more, the'power pneumatics may be Controlled by the tubes which lead to the tracker bar. For instance, due to the fact that the chamber 68 is maintained under constant low pressure by the connection 69 with the pump, and due to the bleed holes 65, the pressure beneath the pouches of the valves is likewise reduced. S0 long as a hole in the tracker barv which communicates with the duct 64 leading thereto, is closed, the valve 74 will be lowered-and atmospheric air cut ott` from the power pneumatics; however, when a hole in the tracker bar is opened so as to let atmospheric air into the duct 64, said air elevates the valve 74 and permits the inflow of atmospheric air through the duct 76 leading to the power pneumatic so as to causethe'sam'e to openpand which due to its connection with the movable leaf of the governor ope-rates said governor to vary the intensity of theI playing. l/Vhen the hole in the tracker bar Communicating with the duct 64 is again closed, the valve will drop and seal the bore to the outside atmosphere, and the pressure will be reduced in the power pneumatic due to the constant exhaust from the chamber 68. f

AS above stated, an arrangement of the above' character may be utilized for operatingthe power pneumatics of the dynamic governor, but in this construction it is obvious in order to obtain any accent of the playing over a period of time other than momentary, some means must be provided for continuously admitting atmospheric air for the desired time, and this is usually accomplished' by making a slot in the music roll which, as before pointed out, has the disadvantage in that the edge of the sheet isfweakened so that the same will not stand up and interferes with proper tracking ofthe' sheet. In order to overcome this diiiiculty, there is pro# vided al system for actuating the primary valves by small :holes in the music roll, the operation being such that when a hole in the music roll registers with the hole in the tracker bar leading to the valve, momentarily opening the valve to atmospheric air, the .valve is maintained in position to admit atmospheric air after the music sheet again closes the hole in the tracker bar, the valve being restored to its initialgposition or cancelled by the registration of a second hole in the music sheet which operates a second valve and restores the first to its initial position.

.In carrying out this arrangement, the cap or top membervof the valve housing is provided with a channel for each valve, which leads from the bore 73, asindicated at 77, to, and communicates with a central chamber 7 8, and which is adapted to be placed in communication'with a duct 79 which also leads to the chamber 78 and opens through a suitable orifice to a point beneath the pouch 63. Each of the valves 7 4L is provided with a like arrangement. Mounted at one side of the top portion of the housing or cap is a member 80, said member being provided with a longitudinally extending chamber 81 which is arranged in line with the chambers 78, and fixed over the open end of the chamber 81 is a partition 82 which is provided with a plurality of pouch buttons 83, each one of which is adapted to fit over the mouth of a chamber 78, in one position so asto provide a continuous passage through the ducts 77 and 79 to a point beneath the pouch 63.

In order to provide for the operation of the primary valves automatically so as to actuate the same when once raised to return the same to initial. position, there is pro'- vided a secondary valve 84. Said secondary valve is adapted to be operated bythe pouch 620 which covers the chamber v621, the chamber 621 being in communication with the tracker bar through the conduit 62. The

- secondary valve 84 is mounted in a bore which communicateswith the vacuum chamber' 68 and-the atmosphere, and mounted in said bore isa thimble'86 having an enlarged aperture 87 therein,-andiixed inthe lower end of the bore'is a similar member 88 having an enlarged aperture. Thesecondary valvev includesa stem 89 which is mounted for sliding lmovement in suitable brackets .90'said stem having arranged thereon spaced valve heads 91 and 92, ,the -valve head 92 normally resting under the iniluence of gravity in'such position asito close the opening in the member ,'88, while the upper valve portion 91 per# mits' atmospheric fair to low' through lthe opening 87 in theupper member. Said air is thence-conducted into the chamber 81 by ay duct 93, fand normally 'rmaintains the pouches 83=in such positionthat the chambers 78 are closed-providing a continuous pas-` sage forfeachfvalv'e alon'g'the ducts 77 and 79 beneath 'the pouches 63 of'the primary valves. VhenA thev valve'S/l -is elevated, the head 91 closes the opening tothe atmosphere, and permits the air toy be exhausted from the chamber y81, which effects retraction of the pouches 82 and opens the chambers 7 8'. A duct 94 leads from the vacuum chamber 68 to the side of the partition 82 opposite to that presented toward the chamber 81 so that when the air'in the chamber81 is exhausted, the atmospheric air flowing in :around the valve stem 72 Awill bei-conducted lbyithe duct 94 to the chamber 68.

' Although not lshown'in detail, itf will be appreciated'that va plurality vof additional primary-valves'may beprovided for connection with the crescendo pneumatic in the same manner as the vsingle connection shown is made, so'that said pneumatic may be operated in graduated steps in either opening or closing directions,`or moved a relatively great extent quickly, depending on the manner in which Ithe tracker bar holes are registered with the valves.

In operation', in playing a piece of music, with the music roll passing over the tracker bar, and it is desired to accent to a certain degree, and -for a specified length of time, the music roll will be provided with longitudinally spaced holes arranged a sufiicient dis-A tance apart to correspond to the duration of time over which the accented portion of music will be played. Assuming that it is`desired to accent the music to 'a relatively small extent, the holes in thev music roll will be so located upon the sheet as to actuate the smaller power pneumatic 46. When the advance hole in the music roll registers with the tracker bar, atmospheric air is admitted to the duct 64: of the primary valve shown in Fig. 9, said' air passing beneath the pouch 63 so as to elevate the same which in turn elevates the head of the valve 74 so as to admit atmospheric air to the bore 73, which air then flows through the duct 7G to the power pneumatic 46 and eects certain opening movement thereof, which through its connections with the movable leaf of the governor, spreads said leaf to a certain extent, thereby actuating the knife valve and permitting increased withdrawal of air from the stack to effect-the desired accent, it being' understood that the striking capacity of one or more pneumatics is identically regulated by the dynamic governor independent of the power pneumatic. o

Now it is obvious that if only a single hole of small extent is provided in the music roll that the registry between said hole and the hole in the tracker bar is momentary, and ordinarily the valve 74 would be immediately dropped, cutting on the air from beneath the pouch 63 and from the power pneumatic 46, but due to the provision of the secondary valve arrangement and the associated construction heretofore described in detail this does not occur. On the other hand, atmospheric air normally is given free access to the chamber 8l which causes the pouches 88 to close the chambers 78, providing a continuous passage along the ducts 77 and 79 when the valve 74 is raised by the registration of the hole in the tracker bar. The ducts 77 and 79 when the valve 74 is elevated admit atmospheric air to a point beneath the pouch 63 and so maintain the valve elevated and the power pneumatic 46' in communication with atmospheric air. In order to restore the valve 74 to initial position so as to cut on atmospheric air from the power pneumatic 46, the secondary valve arrangement is operated by a second hole in the music roll to admit atmospheric air through the duct 62 beneath the pouch 620, causing elevation of the valve so as to cut off the atmospheric air, and permit the partial exhaustion of the air from the chamber 8l, which retracts the pouches 83 opening the chambers 78, and the atmospheric air is then drawn through the duct 94 into the vacuum chamber, cutting off the flow of atmospheric air under the pouch 63, and due to the provision of the bleed hole which is effecting a partial vacuum beneath the pouch, the valve 74 will be dropped and cut off atmospheric air from the power pneumatic 46 through the duct 76. As above stated, each of the power pneumatics has a primary valve connected therewith operating in the same manner as described, and

'l due to the fact that all of said primary valves are arranged in a. housing which is maintained under partial vacuum at all times through the conduit 70, operation of the secondary valve through its effect upon the pouches 82 will cancel all of said valves s1- multaneously, said secondary valve being restored to initial position due to bleeding the atmospheric air from beneath the pouch into the Chamber 68.

By the above described arrangement, it

will be appreciated that the power pneumatics may be operated in any manner desired, either simultaneously or successively, either in providing a gradually increasing crescendo, or a rapid crescendo effect, and also achieving a sudden or gradual diminuendo as desired.

An important feature of the present invention resides in providing the automatic graduated independently operable power pneumatics which operate upon the reduced air sok as to provide for a large range of expression and at the same time insure that the dynamic intensity of one or more notes struck at the same time will be of equal magnitude.

lVhile I have herein shown and described what I now consider the preferred manner of carrying out the invention, the same is merely illustrative, and I contemplate all changes and modications that come within the scope of the claims appended hereto.

I claim:

l. In a player-piano, the combination with a pneumatic stack, a pump, and a conduit therebetween; of a governor interposed in said conduit and operable by pressure variations in said stack to automatically control the exhaust; means co-acting with said governor for actuating the same independently of the automatic varying pressure control to effect graduations in the dynamic intensity, said independent means being in the form of power pneumatics connected with said governor; means normally exhausting the air in said power pneumatics; and means controlled by the tracker bar for directly admitting atmospheric air to said power pneumatics to actuate the same.

2. In a player piano, the combination with a pneumatic stack, a pump, and a conduit therebetween; of means interposed in said conduit and operable by variations in pressure in said stack to automatically control the exhaust therefrom; independent means for operating said governor to effect changes in expression by the admission or cutting off of atmospheric pressure; a primary valve arrangement normally maintained in closed position through communication with the exhaust afforded by said pump, said primary valve arrangement being controlled by an opening in the tracker bar to admit atmospheric air to said independent means; and secondary valve means normally admitting atmospheric air to said primary valve means to maintain the latter open after the tracker bar is closed by the music roll, said secondary valve means being operable throughthe introduction of atmospheric air through said music roll to cut olf atmospheric air from said primary valve and restore the same to initial position.

3. In a player piano, the combination with i a pneumatic stack, a pump, and a conduit therebetween; of a bellows governor interposed in said conduit and operable by variations in pressure in said stack to automatically control the exhaust therefrom; a plurality of power pneumatics disposed within said governor, each ofsaid power pneumatics having one leaf connected to one leaf of the governor, and another leaf connected to the other leaf of the governor, said power pneumatics being sealed from the interior of said governor pneumatic; a plurality of primary valves, each of said valves communicating with one of said power pneumatics, said primary valves being normally maintained in closed position by the exhaust from said pump, said primary valves being selectively operable to control said power pneumatics; and a secondary valve operable throughthe introduction of atmospheric air to out off atmospheric air from said primary valves and restore the same to closed positionby again connecting them with the exhaust from said pump.

4. In a player piano, the combination with i a pneumatic stack, and a pump for exhausting air from said stack; expression means interposed between said pump and said stack, said expression means being operable through the admission of atmospheric air on the one hand and exhaustion 0f said air on the other hand; and a valve arrangement for controlling said expression means, said valve arrangement comprising a casing having an interior reduced air chamber connected with said pump; a pouch Chamber separated from said reduced air chamber by a pouch, said casing having a port communicating with said reduced air chamber; a primary valve normally closing said port and having a p0rtion disposed for co-operation with the pouch covering said pouch chamber; a conduit com- Y municating with said port and adapted to be opened and closed to atmospheric air by said primary valve, said conduit leading to said expression means; a channel leading from said port and opening beneath the pouch of said primary valve; a secondary valve having a pouch chamber communicating with the tracker bar and closed off from said reduced air chamber, said secondary valve communicating with atmosphericy air when in one position and with the pump when in another position, said secondary valve normally establishing communication through the channel `from said port to beneath the primary valve pouch through the introduction of atmospheric air, and interrupting `said communication when said secondary valve Y is moved to out off atmospheric air and establish communication with said-pump.

In witness Vthat I claim the foregoing I have hereunto subscribed my name this 15th day of April, 1926.

' JAMES C. ARTHUR. 

